March 27-29  Cade’s Cove Campground

Great Smoky Mountains National Park straddles the border of North Carolina and Tennessee. It was designated as a national park in 1926 and initially funded by John Rockefeller, Jr.  More than 11 million people visit here every year, making it the busiest of all our national parks.

The park is home to a diversity of wildlife, including a large population of bears.  Buzz Roadkill kept a sharp eye out, (look closely and you’ll see him!), but didn’t see any.  We did see deer, elk, turkeys, possums, and lots of birds.  We heard owls and Andy heard a coyote in the middle of the night.  The stars were truly amazing; having to get up for a bathroom trip in the middle of the night has its benefits.

We made our first hike of the trip; 5 easy miles to Abram’s Falls.  Not the most spectacular falls we’ve ever seen, but a good way to break in our boots.

We made two trips around Cade’s Cove, which is located at the western part of the the park.  This must be one of the most beautiful places in the world; at least it seems that way to me.  The cove was created by native Americans who cleared it for planting.  After the native people were forced off their land, settlers moved into the cove and continued farming there even after the land was designated a national park.  The cove was home to about 600 people at one time.  The last residents, who had signed life-leases allowing them to stay on their land until their death, left in the late 1940’s. Some of the cabins and other buildings of this community have been preserved.

We could have enjoyed several more days here, but the road is calling!